HIV risk behaviors among male-to-female transgender persons of color in San Francisco.

OBJECTIVES

The authors examined HIV risk behaviors among African American, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), and Latina male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons in order to improve HIV prevention programs.

METHODS

Individual survey interviews with MTF transgender persons of color (n = 332; 112 African Americans, 110 Latinas, and 110 APIs) were conducted.

RESULTS

Prevalence and correlates of receptive anal sex and unprotected receptive anal sex (URAS) varied by type of partner (primary, casual, or commercial sex partners). URAS with primary partners was associated with drug use before sex; URAS with casual partners was associated with HIV-positive status and drug use before sex; and URAS with commercial sex partners was associated with African American ethnicity and low income.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings on current risk behaviors among MTF transgender persons provided meaningful implications for HIV prevention interventions.